Inequality and Culture

“Inequality” is on the lips of philanthropists and policy actors. But the term is rarely defined. Let’s try: “Inequality is a condition marked by arbitrary, disproportionate constraints that limit access to valuable societal assets.” Inequality is sustained by cultural tropes — often-hidden narratives that assign meaning to human attributes like race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and nationality. These cultural narratives are deeply held and difficult to modify or marginalize. Addressing the underlying forces sustaining inequality is slow, difficult work.